Method of forming stripes on capsules and the like



May ,13, 1952 R. P. scHERER 2,596,176

METHOD OF FORMING STRIPES ON CAPSULES AND THE LIKE May 13, 1952 R. P. SCHERER 2,596,176

METHOD OF FORMING STRIPES ON CAPSULES AND THE LIKE Filed May 18, 1948 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2:

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JNVENTOR.

Patented May 13, 1952 METHOD oF FoRMlNcr sTRIPEs oN CAPSULES AND THE LIKE l Robert Pauli Scherer, Detroit, Mich., assignor to R. P. Scherer Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a

corporation of Michigan Application May 18, 1948, Serial N o. 27,779

1 Claim.

This invention relates to method and apparatus for striping rounded objects.

The invention pertains specincally to the application of aqueous coloring media to gelatin capsules in the form of narrow bands or areas that, on drying, form colored stripes sharply contrasting with the remainder of the capsules. In this manner a distinctive appearance is conferred on the capsules. The location, width, number and color of the stripes can be varied as desired, so that any one type of capsule can be rendered readily distinguishable from other types, as according to amount or nature of the capsule contents. Further, the distinctive bands or stripes can be used to characterize the capsules as the product of a certain manufacturer, in other words, as a mark of origin.

I have found that for successful application of an aqueous coloring medium to a gelatin capsule, the surface area on the capsule to be colored should be slightly rubbed or scufed or worn down. Then, the color will adhere to the surface of the capsule when the aqueous coloring medium has been dried, to form a sharply dened adherent stripe or band. Therefore, one feature of this invention comprises the step of subjecting the capsule area to be colored to attrition before or while the aqueous coloring medium is applied to the capsule.

I have also provided an apparatus by which the method of this invention may be practiced. This apparatus includes chucks or concave blocks or other means adapted to receive opposed portions of a capsule or other rounded object to be striped. Preferably, the apparatus includes a spring or other means for resiliently biasing one chuck or block toward the other for holding the capsule or other rounded object therebetween. Provision can be made for rotating the chucks or blocks so that the capsule or other rounded object can be made to spin.

The aqueous coloring medium is suitably applied to the capsule or other rounded object when held as described by means of a rotatable disc having a narrow edge adapted to contact the capsule or other rounded object. Provision is made for a diierential in peripheral speed as between the capsule or other rounded object and the edge of the disc whereby the capsule is subjected to attrition while the disc applies the coloring medium by any suitable means, for instance, a wick having one end dipping into a color container and the other end contacting the edge of the disc ahead of the capsule.

For applying colored bands or stripes to the capsule or other rounded object at various localities, provision is made for relative displacement as between the coloring disc and the capsule holding means. Further, the disc as well as the means for rotatably supporting the same can be swung or otherwise moved toward and away from the capsule or the like, for initiating and terminating the color applying step.

It is therefore an important object of the present invention to provide apparatus and methods for striping gelatin capsules or other rounded objects by which a capsule or the like may be subjected to attrition before or while the color is applied thereto. Y,

Other and further objects and features of this invention will become apparent from the following description and appended claim taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which show, by way of an illustrative example, a device according to the present invention. More particularly:

Figure l is a side elevation, with parts broken away and other parts shown in section, of a device according to the present invention;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the device of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an end elevation, with parts shown in section, taken on the line 3--3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a vertical cross sectional view on the line 4-4 of Figure 2 showing the coloring disc as contacting a capsule being striped; Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4,`butshow ing the coloring disc retracted from the capsule holding means;

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical cross sectional View taken on the line 6 6 of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary cross sec- `tional view taken on the line 'I-`I of Figure 4;

Figure 8 is an enlarged fragmentary cross sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of Figure 2; and

Figure 9 is an enlarged fragmentarycross sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of Figure 2.

In the drawings a suitable base or other support for the device is indicated at IIJ. A block II rising from the support I0 has formed therein spaced aligned bearings I2 and I3 for a crank I4 having a crank I5 (for manual rotation) and `carrying a collar I6 aiiixed to the shaft by means of a set screw I'I between the bearings I2 and I3. The collar I6 fits exactly the interspace between the bearings I2 and I3 and thus prevents longitudinal displacement of the shaft I4. One end of the shaft projects beyond the bearing I3 and carries a block I8 held rigidly to the shaft by a set screw I9. The free face of the block I 8 is formed with a recess 26 receiving and holding a rubber block 2I having its free end recessed, as at 22, to receive one portion or end of a capsule or other rounded object. The connections between the shaft I4 and the two blocks I8 and 2|' are rigid,V and the two recesses 26 and 22 face away from the end of the shaft i4.

Between the crank portion I5 of the shaft I4 and the bearing I2, a pulley 23 is afxed to the shaft I4 by means of a set screw 24.

Another block 36 rising from the support or base I0 has formed therein a bearing 3| aligned with and spaced from the bearing I3 and from the rubber block 2I. The bearing 3| rotatably receives a rod 32 carrying at the end away from the rubber block 2l a hand knob 33 and at the other end a chuck or block 34 (described in greater detail hereinbelow). A collar 35 is affixed toa rod 32 adjacently the block 3:3, and a spring 36 disposed around the rod 32 between the support 30 and the collar 35 urges the block 34 toward the rubber block 2|.

Between the support 30 and the hand knob 33, a pin or lug 31 projects from the rod 32 and is adapted on retraction of the rod 32 from the bearing 3I and rotation pf the rod to engage the bent portion 39 of an arm 38 projecting from the support 30 and thus to hold the rod 32 in retracted position.

The block 34 is formed with a terminal recess 40 (see Figure 8) facing and spaced from the recess 22 and the rubber block 2I and, like the latter. is adapted to receive an end or portion of a capsule or other rounded object. Further, the block 34 is freely rotatable with respect to the rod 32. More particularly, the block 34 is formed with a frustoconical recess 4I facing the end of the rod 32and this recess is partially closed by a ring 42 projecting inwardly over the edge of the recess 4I, being attached to the block 34 by screws 43. A frustoconical head'piece 44 Afor the rod 32 fits within the recess 4| and has its conical face formed with an annular recess 45 adapted to receive roller bearings 45. The head piece 44 is rigidly connected to the end of the rod32, which is formed into square form as indicated at 41 to t into a similarly shaped recess in the head piece 44, being attached to the latter by a set screw 48.

The parts of the apparatus so far described serveto hold and rotate a capsule or other rounded object to be striped. The remaining parts serve to apply the stripe. These other parts are supported` by a block 56 and another block 5I rising from Vthe support IIJ and include a shaft 52 rotatably journalled in suitable aligned ybear- V ings in the blocks 56 and 5I. A pulley y53 is aixed to the shaft v52 outside the block 56 and carries a belt V54 which also passes over the pulley 23 on the shaft i4. Further, a carriage 55 is rotatably disposed about the Ashaft 52 so as to be movable lengthwise thereover. This carriage is provided with an upstanding arm 56 aboutwhich theV lower part of an erectrmember 51V of u -shaped cross section is affixed, withits open side facing the supports II and 3i). Abovethe arm 55, one side of the U-shaped member 51 is offset from the other side.l From the upper end of the member 51 arms .58 project toward the blocks 2|- and 34. The ends of these arms are pierced by aligned apertures to form bearings for a shaft 65 having affixed thereto a |pulley'62` and an inking disc 6 IV formed with a frustoconical edge.

Adjacent to but spaced` from the carriage 55, a pulley 64. is disposed about'the shaft 52- to slide lengthwise over a key 59 longer than the width.

of the pulley, so that the pulley 64 will rotate with the-shaft 62 even when displaced axially of the latter. A belt 63 passes over the two pulleys 52 and 64.

The upright member 51 carries, at its' top and along the side away from the arms 58, an ink or color container 65having a curved tube 66 extending from its interior and over the edge of the container to a place immediately above the top of the coloring disc 6l. The tube contains a wick 61 having one end dipping into the liquid coloring medium or ink in the container 65 and having its other end brushing against the edge of the disc 6I to keep the latter supplied with ink or other liquid coloring medium.

An arm 68 projects from the carriage arm 55 between the supports II and 3B and has its free end hooked to receive and hold one end of a coil spring 69, the other end of which is engaged in the eye 10 of a lug or ear aixed to the face IIJ. Thus, the spring 69 urges the arm 63 and the disc 6I supported thereby toward the blocks 2I and 34 and toward any objects held therebetween to be striped.

Since the carriage 55 is freely swingable with respect to the shaft 52 and is urged by the spring 69 toward a position wherein the disc 6I contacts an object to be striped, it is convenient'to include with the apparatus, means for releasably holding the carriage in an angular position wherein the disc 6I isrso spaced from the blocks 2I and 34 that the latter are easily accessible, as for placing therebetween an object to be striped and for subsequently removingthe same. For this purpose, an arcuate arm 15 may project from the ltop of the carriage arm 56 in the same direction as the arm 58. The arm 15 is formed with a groove 16 leading to a semi-spherical or rounded, relatively deeper recess 11 in that part of the arcuate arm overlying the carriage arm 56 (see Figure '1). For cooperation with the'arm 15, I provide (see VFigure 6), a hollow detent arm 18 extending from the support 30 toward the arcuate arm 15 and receiving therearound a coil spring 19 having one end abutting against the support 30 and the other end abutting against a collar 82 on a rod 80 slidable within the hollow arm 18. Past the collar 82 the rod 8U is formed with a semispherical or rounded head 8| adapted to slide in the groove 15 and to rest within the recess 11 in the arcuate arm 15. Thus, when the carriage arm 56 and parts supported therefrom are swung away from the capsule or object to be striped, the head 8| slides in the groove 16 and lodges in the recess 11 to hold the carriage arm in retracted po'- sition. When the carriage arm is again to be swung into striping position, then the head 8i is forced out of the cavity 11, against the force of the spring 15, and thereafter slides in the groove 16 until the carriage arm has reached the desired position for striping.

To displace the carriage 55 and pulley 64 lengthwise of the shaft 52 and thereby also with respect to the object to be striped, means are provided including a shaft 85 extending through and past aligned bearings in the blocks 5i) and 5I outside and below the shaft 52. The portion of the shaft 85 between the blocks 56 and 5I is threaded, as is also the portion outside the block 56. Outside the block 5I, the end of the shaft is provided with a knurled hand knob 88 and, between the block 5I and the knob 83, a collar 63 is aflxed about the shaft by means of a set screw 3l. A nut and locknut assembly 69 is provided for the threaded end of the shaft 85 outside the block 50. Further, the carriage 9| is threaded onto the shaft 85 between the blocks 50 and 5| and this carriage has projecting therefrom three fixed spaced forked arms 92, 93 and 94. The forks 92 and 93 abut the outsides of the carriage 55 with the shaft 52 therebetween, while the fork 94 (which has its end offset away from the other two forks)l abuts the free outside of the pulley 64, with the shaft 52 within the fork. Thus, the shaft 85 may be rotated by turning the hand knob 88, causing longitudinal displacement of the carriage 9| over the shaft 85 so that the three forks 92, 93 and 94 acting on the carriage 55 and pulley 64 displace the latter lengthwise of the shaft 52 to any desired extent. The locknut assembly 69 and the collar 86 hold the shaft 85 against longitudinal displacement when rotated manually.

For operation of the apparatus described, the knob 33 is pulled outwardly and rotated to retract the block 34 away from the block 2l and held in retracted position by engagement of the lug 3l behind the belt portion 39 of the arm 38.

A capsule (indicated at A) is then inserted into the recess in rubber block 2| and the arm 33 is rotated so that the lug 3'| is disengaged from the bent portion 39 of the arm 38. Then the spring 36 urges the block 34 towards the other end of the capsule so that this other capsule end is received into the recess 40 in the block 34 and the capsule is resiliently retained. The capsule may then be rotated or spun by manual cranking of the crank |5. Note that as mentioned hereinabove, the block 34, is so connected with the rod 32 as to be freely rotatable with respect to the latter.

Before the capsule A is inserted between the blocks 2| and 34, the carriage 55 and parts supported therefrom have been swung away from the blocks 2l and 34 into the position shown in Figure 5 wherein the head 8| of the detent arm is retained in the recess 'Il to maintain the parts in this position. When the capsule A has been inserted within and between the blocks 2| and 34, the carriage 55 is swung into the position shown in Figures 3 and 4 wherein the edge of the disc 6| contacts the capsule under the urging of the spring 69. At this time or earlier, the knob 8B is turned to adjust the edge of a disc 6| to the exact area on the capsule where it is desired to apply the stripe.

For actual striping, the crank I5 is operated to rotate the shaft |4 and thereby also the capsule A. The belt 54 trained around the pulleys 23 and 53 causes rotation of the shaft 52 and of the pulley 64 keyed thereon but not the carriage 55 which is rotatable with respect to the shaft 52. The belt 63 trained over the pulleys 64 and 62 then causes the shaft 60 and the inking disc '6| to rotate. The ratios of the pulleys 23, 53, 62 and 64 are so adjusted that the peripheral speeds of the capsule A and of the disc 6| are different, to cause attrition of the area of the capsule traversed by the disc 6|. Although the drawing shows the disc 6| and capsule A as rotating in the same direction,

it is also possible to have the capsule and the disc rotating in opposite directions.

For removal of the capsule after striping has been completed, the carriage arm 56 is swung away from the capsule and the rod 32 is retracted, as described hereinabove.

In Figure 8, the bands or stripes applied as described are indicated at B. It should. be understood that these bands may be spaced as desired over the length of the capsule. Bands of a width made up of multiples of the width of the edge of the disc `6| may be obtained by applying several stripes without spacing the same. If one or several bands overlap, the width of the resulting stripe will be fractionally greater than the width of an individual band. If, while striping is carried out, the knob 88 is turned, the resulting stripes will be wavy.

Many details of construction and procedure may be varied without departing from the principle of this invention which comprises broadly speaking, the concept of holding a capsule or other rounded object to be striped, resiliently pressing against the capsule while so held. an edge carrying a liquid coloring medium, and effecting relative rotation as between the capsule and the edge. The apparatus may be said to comprise means for rotatably supporting a capsule and means for resiliently and rotatably pressing against the capsule the edge of a disc carryinga liquid coloring medium, the disc being not only rotatable with respect to the capsule but also -displaceable lengthwise and transversely thereof. It is therefore not my intention to limit this patent otherwise than necessitated by the scope of the appended claim.

I claim as my invention:

A method of forming an encircling colored stripe on a gelatin capsule which comprises grasping opposed ends of said capsule, rotating said capsule while so grasped, abrading successive contiguous parts of an encircling peripheral capsule area while said capsule is thus grasped and rotated, and applying an aqueous coloring medium to each successive area part as each such area part is being abraded, the force effecting said abrading being applied resiliently and in directions both transverse and generallytangential with respect to said capsule periphery.

ROBERT PAULI SCHERER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the 

